Occupant operated swing



April 17, 1951 R. w. HINES 2,549,035

OCCUPANT OPERATED swmc Filed Oct. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR R'l hWHines BY P A TT ORNE Y.

April 17, 1951 w, |-||NE$ 2,549,085

OCCUPANT OPERATED SWING Filed Odt. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR y Ralph "(Hines 6 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to a swing construction, and more especially to a self-propelled swing for use by adults or children.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a swing of this character, wherein the' same is operatable by a person using a minimum of muscular force due to the peculiar arrangement and combination of parts in the assembly of such swing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swing of this character, wherein the main operating force is applied by the use of the arms of the operator and secondary operating force resides in the muscular force exerted by the operators legs and feet and in the bending of the body of the said operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a swing of this character, wherein the maximum movement and speed is attained with only a minimum of muscular effort.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a swing of this character, wherein it imitates in appearance an aeroplane, it being simple in construction, readily and easily operated, sturdy in make-up, attractive in its apported by a number of ropes, cables or rods 5 hung from an appropriate overhead supporting pearance, possessed of few parts, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Other objects and advantages will appear and suggest themselves in the following description.

The accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following specification are used to illustrate a preferred form of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is cap-able of various modifications and changes which are within the scope of the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts described in the specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention showing the swing in normal operative position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the swing in use by a person in one forward position. 7

Figure 3 is a similar view of the swing operated by a person in one of its rearward positions.

The swing may be made of any appropriate material which is strong and light in weight. The body portion and wings are preferably made from wood, light metal or any other suitable material. The brackets and levers are preferably made of metal but obviously various other materials may be used.

The swing may be constructed so as to simulate the shape of any vehicle. In the preferred form the swine is made to simulate an aeroplane or glider; various other shapes may be used however without departing from the spirit of the invention. The swing as shown in the drawings is supstructure indicated generally at 6. The swing proper constitutes a main elongated body portion 1 of suitable shape. This body portion may be provided with forward wings 8 and rear wings 9, respectively. The rear of the body portion is formed to simulate the rudder of an aeroplane. Centrally of the body portion 1 recess I0 is formed in which is rigidly fastened by any means or suitable fastening elements, such as screws II a seat' 12 and a back l3. The back I3 is mounted so as to incline at any appropriate angle to the horizontal axis of the body portion 1.

Rigidly attached to a vertical portion adjacent to the front of the body portion 1 forwardly of the wings 8 is a bracket member [4 fastened to the body portion by any suitable fastening means, such as screws IS. A second similar vertical bracket member I6 is attached to the body por tion rearwardly of the wings 8. A link I! is pivoted to the bracket member M at or adjacent to the top of the body portion 7 and the bracket member M a similar link I8 is pivotally attached to the bracket member [6. The pivotal connections of the links may be effected in any suitable manner.

A connecting link I9 is pivotally connected at its forward end to the link I! adjacent to the center thereof and at its rearward end to the link I8 adjacent to its center portion soas to normally assume a horizontal position in spaced relation to the top of the body portion 1 and the wings 8. Obviously the raising or lowering of the pivotal connecting points of the links I9 with respect to the links I! and I8 decreases or increases the leverage and consequently the efiiciency of the linkage arrangement.

It will also be obvious that the link i8 may be made longer than either of the links I! and 23 which links are preferably of the same length. This arrangement gives a still greater leverage.

A cross bar 2! shaped to form handle bars which taken in combination with the link l8 may be termed the pro-lever is rigidly attached, at its center to the top of the link 18. This bar 2| may be either made integral with the link or fastened thereto by any suitable means.

A bracket 22 similar to the bracket member [4 and I6 is rigidly fastened in a vertical position to the rudder portion of the body portion 7. Pivotally connected to the top of the bracket 22 is. a link 23 of substantially the same size as the links H and I8. A cross bar 24 similar to the eress bar 20 is rigidly fastened by any suitable means to the top of the link 23.

'I'he axes of the. pivotal connections of the links l1, l8 and 23 to the bracket members l4, l6. and-22 lie approximately in the same horifz'ontal plane. The cross bars 20 and 24 likewise lie in approximately the same horizontal plane in spaced relation to the first mentioned plane.

A suitable connecting means, such as, for example, the hooks 25 and rings 26 is provided at each end of each of the cross bars 20 and 24, for connecting the ropes, cables or rods 5 thereto as illustrated. A suitable foot bracket 21 is rigidly fastened to each side of the body portion 1 adjacent to the bottom edge thereof approximately under the center of the forward wing 8. The foot brackets maybe secured to the body portion 1 in various difierent adjusted positions by the provision of a-ser-iesbf holes bored'through the body portion as indicated in the drawings. The operation of the swing'is simple and obvioils. The operator seats himself on the seat 8 and places his feet on the pedals or foot brackets.

21 and'grips the handle bars 2| in the manner illustratei' To start the swing in motion it is only necessary to-exert a slight pull or push on the bars 2| with the arms. Attheend of the forward-movement of the swing the operator pushes on the bars 2| and conversely at the end of the rearward movement a pull is exerted on the bars 2|. The operator acquires a comfortable attitude when riding the swing.

An additional seat or seats may be provided on the body portion 1 if desired. An extra passenger may also be carried on the swing at the wing 9 if desirable. v

What is claimed is:

An aeroplane swing, comprising: an elongated longitudinally tapered board-like body having a recess opening through the uppermost edge of the body between the ends of the latter providing a seating space, pairs of spaced upstanding parallel levers pivoted to the body fore and aft thereof, cross-heads on the pairs of levers, respectively, flexible suspension elements .detachably connected to the ends of the cross-heads, an upstanding operating lever pivoted to the body adjacent to the fore pair of levers, the pivotal connections of all levers being in substantially the same. plane with respect to each other, a pivotal linkconnection between the operating lever and the fore pair of levers, and laterally projecting wingson the body at. the forward and rearward portions thereof.

. RALPH W. HINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following. referencesxare of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

